National charity initiatives

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A helping hand, Australia wide

Every day, thousands of Australians rely on the invaluable services of our nations charities. That’s why Coles works hard with a variety of national charity partners so that together we can raise funds and awareness for some of Australia’s worthiest causes.

Australian Defence Force Assistance Trust

Coles is proud to partner with the Australian Defence Force Assistance Trust, which cares for the heroes who have served their country and their families.

In the lead up to ANZAC Day 2015 - when the nation commemorates 100 years since the first Australian troops landed in Gallipoli -– we’ve pledged to raise $5 million for the Australian Defence Force Assistance Trust.

This will support current and former members of the Australian Army, Navy and Air Force and their families whose lives have been adversely affected through military service.

Redkite

Coles is proud to be in partnership with national cancer charity Redkite, which provides essential support from hospital to home for children and young people (0-24 years) with cancer, and their families.

Coles has donated five cents from the sale of every loaf of specially marked Coles Smart Buy and Coles Brand bread to Redkite since 26 January 2013. Coles team members have also been passionately fundraising for Redkite, while our in-store and online promotions have inspired customers to generously support children and young people with cancer.

Since the partnership began, Coles has raised over $12.5 million for Redkite, ensuring they can deliver more support to families than ever before.

Cancer Council

Coles, an official partner of the Cancer Council since 1996 has helped raise over $19.5 million dollars for cancer research and support programs through sponsorship, support of the ever popular Daffodil Day campaign and donations from every bottle of Coles sunscreen purchased.

In 2014, through the generous support of our customers and team members, Coles raised $2.8 million for local Cancer Council support services, for those who are living with or are touched by cancer.
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SecondBite

Coles Community Food with SecondBite donates surplus healthy, fresh produce to charities around Australia. Over 500 Coles stores are donating fresh produce and bakery items to both metropolitan and regional communities to assist the estimated 2 million Australians who don’t have access to a safe, regular, and affordable food supply.

Foodbank

Coles is committed to helping Foodbank in its important mission to achieve ‘An Australia without Hunger’ by regularly donating food and groceries. Through the dedicated work of our team members, Coles proudly donated 1.14 million kilograms of food and groceries in 2014.

In May 2013, Coles received The Patron’s award from Foodbank, recognising the millions of kilograms of food donated during a partnership stretching back over 10 years – enough to make more than 10 million meals for Australians in need of a little help.

Guide Dogs Australia

Since 1982, Coles has supported the Guide Dogs Australia Collection Dog Program. The iconic Collection Dogs raise money to give blind and vision impaired people the skills and confidence to move around their local communities safely and independently.

Coles and customers have raised over $5 million since 1982 for Guide Dogs Australia.

You will find collection dogs in many Coles supermarkets and Liquorland stores throughout Australia. Your loose change and donations have helped to raise, train and support over 160 Guide Dogs across Australia.

Coles Indigenous Food Fund

Coles is the largest supporter and distributor of bush foods in Australia. Next time you visit Coles, look for the unique and tasty bush food range of Outback Spirit sausages, sauces, cooking sauces and condiments. Ten cents from every Outback Spirit product sold is donated to Coles Indigenous Food Fund, which supports Indigenous business development and promotes Australian native bush foods.

The success of Coles bush food range means some wild-harvested ingredients are no longer able to meet the demand for them. To help improve supply, Coles Indigenous Food Fund provides financial support, in conjunction with the Outback Spirit Foundation, to a number of Indigenous communities and enterprises.

From Central Australia to the Kimberleys and Cape York, Coles is helping these groups develop commercial planting and harvesting of bush tomatoes, Kakadu plums and native herbs in key locations - so we can all enjoy the fantastic flavours and authentic tastes of real Australian food.